Improvement in clasps for leather belts



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLASPS FOR LEATHER BELTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 136,549, dated March 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, LOUIS SANDERS, of Brooklyn, E. D., in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented Improvement in Leather-Belt Clasps, of which the following is a specification In the manufacture of leather belts the skin is cut up into strips, and these stripsare out OK to the required lengths. In so doing, there are always pieces that cannot be employed because they are too short, and hence considerable loss ensues. This is especially the case in the manufacture of waist-belts from enameled leather, and used by ladies.

My invention consists in a clasp for uniting the ends of two pieces of leather to form a belt, and at the same time covering the joint with a smooth and ornamental metallic surface.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a view of the metallic blank as cut out to form the clasp, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view, showing the two ends of the pieces of leather to be united, and the clasp partially applied thereto.

The clasp a is made with an ornamental central portion 1 1, at the edges of which are projectin g teeth 2 2, and at the ends are the shields 3 3. These parts are made from one piece of sheet metal, stamped out and ornamented by embossing in any desired figure or form. The teeth2 are bent back at right angles to the clasp, and the two pieces of leather belting to be united have the ends cut off at right angles, and punctured at the proper places for receiving the teeth 2 2. After the ends of the pieces of belt to be united have been laid atthe back of the clasp, and the ends of the teeth 2 passed through the perforations, the teeth are clinched by the ends"being bent over so as to hold the ends of the leather firmly by said teeth. The wings or shlelds 3 3 are then bent around the edges of the leather, and pressed down firmly at the back of the belt so as to cover the points of the teeth and also aid in keeping the ends of the belt in position. These shields also render the joint smooth and ornamental, so that there are not any angles or rough projections to come into contact with the dress or hands in employing the belt.

By this improvement the belt can be made of" two or more pieces of leather, and will be strong and ornamented at the joint, so as to be as useful and generally acceptable as an article of dress as it would be if made in one piece.

I am aware that teeth have beenmade upon clasps for hoop skirts, and also upon clasps that unite two thicknesses of belts or straps.

I claim as my invention- The ornamental clasp, for uniting the contiguous ends of pieces of belt-leather, made with the teeth 2 at the edges of the central portion 1 to pass through the leather: and be clinched, and the shields3 to cover clinched teeth at the back, as set forth. Signed by me this 9th day of September,

Louis assumes. Witnesses:

Geo. T.. PINCKNEY, Urns. H. Smrn. 

